Reinforced-concrete pole-base.



P. H. COLE.

RElNfocE coNcnUE POLE BASE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25| IBIS.

Patented June 4, 1918.

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PHILIP H. COLE, OE SHANGHAI, CHINA, ASSIGYNOR TO W. ROY MCCANNE, TRUSTEE, OF

. ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. l

nErnronoEn-CONCRETE roma-BASE.

To all whom t may concern: 'f

Beit knownthat LPHrLreI-I. COLE, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Shanghai, China, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Reinforced-Concrete Pole-Bases, of which the `following is a full, clear, concise, and exact-description,reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. My invention relates to reinforced lconcrete pole-bases.

. The inventionis widely applicablefor use in constructing telephone lines or transmission lines and in `general where poles are employed to carry wires and the like. The invention is further applicable to use in bridge and trestleconstruction.

i The wooden pole is poorly adapted for direct settingin the ground due to the action of theair and moisture at the ground levelwhich cause rottingof the pole at this point. 4The pole is also subject at or about the ground level to destruction by insects and thelike, particularly intropical or semitropical regions. f j

The iron Vpole is` subject to .rusting atand below the ground level and in addition is expensive and unsatisfactory to install and maintain, due to the requirement of special tools, etc. The iron pole is hardto climb and is dangerous tollinemen due-` to its con- A`Con`crete has recently been proposed as material for poles. It is unsatisfactory" in many respects like the iron pole, asit is expensive, and in that special "steps must be provided" for climbing the pole and special equipment must Ybe providedfor manufacturing,\handling, installing and maintaining. Such poles are too heavy to transport and erect with unskilled labor and simple equipment.` Concrete is a material which is speciallyadapted for useV at and below the ground level but j, which .is poorly adapted for the shaft of thepole. j y

I-Ioweventhe iron and `the concrete pole have their` ownspecial advantages and each type of polehas found a limited field of use.

Ipropose to construct a pole having `the advantages of all three types of poles with a minimum of the disadvantagesof each.` The pole of my inventioncomprises a wooden shaft; a concrete base and an iron socket for unioni between Vthe base and the shaft. In

. performs two functions.

Spcification of Letters Patent.` Patented Juin@ de, 1918.. Application led August 25, 1916. Serial No. 116,848.

this manner I secure the benefits of the lightness and strength of the wooden pole in the shaft, the ease of climbing, of working or shaping and the valuable insulating proper ties.V Atthe same time I secure the advantages of concrete construction at and below the ground level.` This also disposes the weight at the proper point and provides a rigid non-corrosive, non-rotting material at the surface of the ground. The iron socket It forms first of all a socketfor the wooden shaft, and at the same time it forms the reinforcement of the concrete base.

I shall now describe in detail one embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of the present specification.

Figurel is a side elevation of a pole constructed in accordance with my invention;

` F ig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; i

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the socket and base; and

Fig. 4L is a cross-section taken on the line Ll, 4, of Fig. 2. y

The pole of my invention comprises a concrete base which is formed in a suitable mold as will be described later, a socket portion 2 and a wooden shaft 3.

The base l is hollow for the greater portion of itslength having a tapering central bore 4, as shown in Fig. 2. The core which is employed to form this bore is tapered and liagonally split to facilitate withdrawal, being larger at the top than at the bottom. A transverse passage 5 for the escape of water is formed in the sidewall near the bot` tom and communicates with the central bore 4:. y

. `The concrete basel is reinforced longitudinally by four angle iron bars 6, 7, 8, and 9 which are placed in the corners of the base 1 with the corners of the angle bars facing outwardly. These angle irons extend substantially the full length of the base and project out above `the concrete to `formthe socket 2.

Thebase l is adapted to be set into the ground for a depthof about ivefeet acccrding to the nature of the ground and the top ofthe base is then caused to project above the ground for a considerable distance so as tohold the pole well above the ground level. The corners of the base above the ground level are chambered off' as shown at 10, in Fig. 1, to indicate the proper setting depth.` The angle irons 6, 7, 8 and 9 are held together by an upper circumferential brace or strap of iron 11 which is riveted to the flat sides of the angles. A similar circumferential brace 12 is secured to the angle bars `just at the point where they emerge from the concrete of the base 1. Two diagonal Crossed braces 14: are riveted ,to each other and the adjacent legs of' the angles upon each side of the base.

The angle bars 6, 7 S and 9 are reinforced at the point where they enter the concrete by short bars of angle-iron laid inside` o-f and nesting with the angles G, 7, S and 9.. These short bars are continued for a short. distance above and below theend of the base. The purpose of these short angles is to. add strength tov the` iron and to add additional mctalat the point most liable to rusting, the concrete being brought halfway up the band 12 in order to give extra. strength at the point where the iron is liable to rust.

rlhe angle bars 6, 7, 8 and 9 are tied together by a lateral reinforcing system of iron or steel wire 15 which in theA form I have illustrated comprises a heavy wire wopnd helically about the angle bars 6, 7, 8 anc 9. The bottoms of the angle bars 6, 7, 8 and 9 are provided with short struts 16 which are attached diagonally. The function of these struts is to space the angles (i,` 7, 8 and 9 properly while the concrete is. being poured in the form about the core and skeleton and to` act as a reinforcing brace.

The upper end of the central bore is flared out as shown at 17 in Fig. 2 to facilitate the draining of rain water running down the pole.

The pole base comprising the base 1 and socket 2 may be made in quantity at a central point and shipped tothe point of use as the weight is not so great as to be prohibitive. The length is relatively small and the danger of breakage is slight.

The wooden shaft of the pole is trimmed to fit into the socket and is inserted either before` or -after the. base is set into the ground. Suitable wedges not shown may be driven into the` corners of the socket ifdesired and the pole may be fastened by spikes or screws although this is not generally'necessary.,

. A pole base constructed in accordance with the above teaching is properly reinforced and as a consequence is both light and strong, being found of ample strentgh to withstand the severe uses to which poles in wire lines are commonly subjected. The construction is` particularly permanent and saves its cost over other types of poles in a remarkably short time. l

If the wooden shaft should `become damaged as by lightning or other causes, another shaft maybe substituted without drsturbingA the base.

I am aware that numerous attempts have been made to produce a pole base for securing the advantages of this type of construction Ibut these devices have been of faulty design and are@ commercially impractical.

"They are not adapted for convenience in ticularity, I do not` incanto confine myself to the dimensions or proportions shown nor do I intend to limit the invention any more than is required by the prior art, as I consider that numerous modificationsfand variations are possi-blewithoutfdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Iclaim: j 1. In combinatioina, concrete base having its` major portion adapted tobe' disposed below the. surface. of the ground, a plurality of angle bars symmetrically disposed in said base and forming reinforcing means for the base, the bars. being disposed with their concave sides facing inwardly `and projecting from the concrete to form a socket `for receiving the shaft. of a wooden pole and circumferentially extending bracing means securing together and bracing the top of said angle bars with respect to each other, said bracing `ineans lying wholly outsideof the socket. j j n l 2. In Combination, a hollow concretebase having its` major portion adapted to i be `disposed below the `surface of theV ground, a plurality of angle bars symmetrically dis posed in said hollow base and forming reinforcing means for said base,` said bars projecting from said concrete to form a socket, reinforcing angles for reinforcing said first angle bars where they emerge from said concrete base, bracing means comprising circumferential and diagonal braces.` `for securing the upper ends of said first angle bars together above the concrete; and a round wooden pole" havingits` lower end encircled and supported by saidj bars and'braces. l

3. In combination, a hollow concrete base having its major portion `adapted to bef disn posed belowI the surface ofthe gronnd, said concrete base havinga 4hollow borea pluralty 0f. angl@ bars symmetrically .disposed in said hollow base and forming reinforcing means for said base, said bars projecting from said concrete to form the corners of a square socket, means 'for supporting the lower ends of said angle bars, said concrete base containing wire reinforcement Wound around said angle bars and bracing means for securing the upper ends of said angle bars together, said means comprisin circumferential and diagonal braces exterior of concrete, said bars and braces forming a hollow socket adapted to surround and support the lower end of an individual wooden pole.

4. In combination a plurality of angle bars, a concrete base inclosing said angle bars for a portion of their length only, a circumferential band about said angle bars', at the point where they emerge from said concrete, said' band being partially covered with the concrete to retard rusting, the top of the concrete being tapered away from said` band to facilitate drainage of water from the band, and bracin means rigidly joining the upper free enge of the angle ars.

5. In combination a plurality of angle bars, a concrete base iiiclosing said angle bars for a portion of their length only, a circumferential band about said angle bars, at the point where they` emerge from said concrete, said band being partially covered with the concrete to retard rusting, the top of the concrete being tapered away from said band to facilitate drainage of water from the band, and short reinforcing angle bars lying upon the opposite sides from said band and nesting with said plurality of angle bars at the point where the angle bars emerge from the concrete base, said reinforcing angles thereby protecting the adjacent side of the main angles against rust.

6. In combination, a plurality of angle iron bars arranged at the corners of a polygon, said angle bars having convex sides facing outwardly, circumferential reinforcing members about the lower ends of said i'od, a concrete filling surrounding and inclosing said reinforcing members and the lower ends of'said bars only, a circumferential reinforcing member about the top of the bars, joining the free ends thereof and diagonal bracing bars joining the tops of the bars with the adjacent bars at substantially gon, said angle bars having their convex sides facing outwardly, circumferential reinforcing members about the lower ends of said rod, a concrete filling surrounding and inclosing the lower ends of said bars and said reinforcing members only, a circumferential reinforcing member about the top of the bars joining the free ends thereof and diagonal bracin the bars with adjacent bars at substantially the point where they emerge from the concrete, the bars above the concrete together 'with the reinforcing members and bracing bars forming a socket, and an individual wooden pole stuck into and completely encircled by said socket, said pole being structurally unattached to said socket.

8. `In combination, a concrete base having an axial bore opening at the upper end thereof, a plurality of symmetrically arranged angle bars embedded in vsaid base about the bore and extending therefrom to form a rectangular socket and means for strengthening said angle bars adjacent the juncture of the same with said base andl means interconnecting said bars at their free ends.

In witness. whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of August, A. D.

PHILIP H. COLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C.

bars joining the top ofV Correction in Letters Patent- No 1,268,325.

It is hereby oertiied that in Letters Patent No. 1,268,325, granted June- 4, 1918, upon the application of Philip H. Cole, of Shanghai, China, for an improvement in Reinforced-Concrete Pole-Bases, an error appears in the printed speoioationhrequiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 88, claim S, after the Word ends insert the Words said socket being adapted to hold a pole "Ln (Llmame/nt with the base; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this Correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 2d clay of July, A. D., 1918.

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Cl. 'Y2- 84. 

